In spite of the fact that chair lifts take you up the mountain, downhill skiing is a very physically demanding activity. The body positions that provide the best combination of balance, stability, control and speed are those that require relatively high levels of muscle strength. In addition to enhanced skiing performance, a strong musculoskeletal system is your best protection against acute and overuse injuries that seem all too common in this sport.

While no one would argue the value of cardiovascular conditioning, aerobic fitness is clearly not the limiting factor in downhill skiing. And though lack of joint flexibility may lead to performance limitations, excessive joint mobility is typically more harmful than helpful. The key to better skiing is greater muscle strength, pure and simple. For overall health and fitness, do your favorite endurance activities and stretching exercises. But for confidence and competence on the black diamond trails, do your strength training.

Downhill skiing is essentially a power activity that emphasizes the anaerobic energy system. Forceful contractions of the quadriceps and hamstrings muscles provide proper body positioning to use the snow and gravity to best advantage. Be thankful for turns, because you can't hold the power position for very long without formidable muscle fatigue. Turns offer both challenge and change of position. The brief unloading phase provides momentary release and relief for the hard-working quadriceps and hamstrings. The turning action also activates the rotational muscles of the midsection and the lateral movement muscles of the thighs. More specifically, smooth turns are closely related to strong external and internal oblique muscles that control midsection rotation, and to strong hip abductor and adductor muscles that shift the hips from side to side.

Although not as important for power production, the muscles of the shoulders, torso, and arms are responsible for effective pole plants, and for safely absorbing impact forces in the event of a fall. Other muscles that serve an essential function in terms of postural support and injury prevention are the low back and neck muscles.

Finally, the anterior tibial muscles of the shin surround and largely control the ankle joint with respect to skiing movements. While modern ski boots reduce the ankle injuries, strong anterior tibial muscles certainly enhance foot action and functional ability for downhill skiing.

Exercise Selection
Based on our downhill skiing needs analyses, the following machine and free-weight exercises are recommended. To ensure muscle balance and lessen injury potential, it is advisable to train opposing muscle groups. For example, you should work both the anterior tibial muscles and the calf muscles for balanced muscle development in the lower leg. Generally speaking it is best to begin with exercises for the larger muscle groups of the legs, and proceed to the smaller muscle groups of the torso, arms, midsection and neck.

Wayne L. Westcott, Ph.D., is fitness research director at the South Shore YMCA in Quincy, MA. He is strength training consultant for numerous national organizations, such as the American Council on Exercise, the......more

Disclaimer: The information provided on HealthWorld Online is for educational purposes only and IS NOT intended as a substitute for
professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek professional medical advice from your physician or other qualified
healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

Are you ready to embark on a personal wellness journey with our whole person approach?